Disk Cleanup in Win 7?

[Chiefcrowe]

Now when I open it and click on clean up system files I have additional options to Remove Service Pack Backup Files and Windows Update Clean Up which all together would free up about 7 GB. That should be fine to do right?

 

[Auric]

Yes.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2852386

 

[thewhat]

It should be fine.

But there's a bug related to this:
After using "Update Cleanup" I have to download an update for .NET 3.5.1 (KB2446710).
And after that if I use cleanup again, I'll have to re-download the update, and so on ad infinitum.

It might be that it only happens if .NET 3.5.1 is disabled (in Windows features), because on another PC where I have .NET 3.5.1 enabled this doesn't happen.

 

[.MNN]

I don't see this update when I check for updates. What settings do I need to change in order to get this hotfix? I'm using win7 pro.

 

[Chiefcrowe]

It was an optional update in Windows update this week that enabled these new options for cleanup when using Disk Cleanup. You may have to install it manually if it isn't appearing for you on the list.

I don't see this update when I check for updates. What settings do I need to change in order to get this hotfix? I'm using win7 pro.

 

[.MNN]

It was an optional update in Windows update this week that enabled these new options for cleanup when using Disk Cleanup. You may have to install it manually if it isn't appearing for you on the list.

Thanks for the reply, Chiefcrowe. Does anyone know why some machines like mine didn't get this update? I checked my update settings and I can't see any reason why I wouldn't receive this update. Perhaps there are more I'm missing each month. Would like to find out.

 

[Auric]

Dunno why it wouldn't show.

Service Pack cleanup was already an option, only the Updates cleanup was added. Anyway, I am glad for it since having previously been unsuccessful searching for a way to safely reduce this bloat. Smaller backup images are always welcome.

Also, the option could reasonably be considered safe to run so the main concern was whether doing so would prevent reverting -which as stated in the notes it does not since previous versions can still be installed.

 

[Chiefcrowe]

The only reason I could think of is some kind of bug or you didn't have some prerequisite installed.
Maybe it will show up if you install all updates and check again.

Thanks for the reply, Chiefcrowe. Does anyone know why some machines like mine didn't get this update? I checked my update settings and I can't see any reason why I wouldn't receive this update. Perhaps there are more I'm missing each month. Would like to find out.

 

[.MNN]

Sorry guys, turns out I did get this update. You have to run disk cleanup as administrator or the Windows Update Cleanup option will not be present.

 

[Chiefcrowe]

Yes, you do have to run as admin when you click on Clean Up System files.

FYI - I just ran this and it did free up a Lot of space but it took a long time to run though.

 

[Auric]

"Notes: You may have to restart the computer to finish the cleanup process."

Not only must it be restarted but there will be no prompt to do so. I noticed a significant reduction at the time but more recently made a backup resulting in an image of 10.5GB versus previous 12.7 with little other difference (actually added a few proggies). Which is significant for an SD card and even allows two such images per BD25.

One oddity between backups was "msvcr71.dll" going missing from System32 / SysWOW64 so I wonder if a proggy uninstaller or this Disk Cleanup was responsible? Of course the file was easily restored from backup or one of the other six copies installed in various program folders. 🙄